CHENNAI: Residents across Tamil Nadu can now buy vegetables and groceries from 6am to 5pm starting Monday as the state government on Saturday tweaked norms for the lockdown and extended it by a week till June 14.
Chief minister M K Stalin, while announcing the extension of the statewide shutdown, allowed shops selling essential commodities to reopen and government offices to resume work with 30% staff.
Though Covid-19 cases have fallen in several districts, in Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Karur, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts, the pandemic has not been brought under control, the government said.
Certain relaxations, however, are extended to these districts too to address the essential requirements of people, Stalin said in a statement.
Activities permitted so far, including sale of vegetables and fruits in mobile vehicles, will continue in all districts, the statement said.
Tasmac outlets, tea shops, standalone shops other than those selling groceries, vegetables and fruits, commercial malls, textile and jewellery showrooms and cinema theatres will remain closed.
No activity will be permitted in containment zones across the state.
Orders have been issued to Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner and respective district collectors to strictly enforce Covid management directives, including wearing of face masks and social distancing, chief secretary Irai Anbu said.
Curbs on public and private bus transport and metro rail will continue.
Take away services will continue to be permitted in restaurants, hotels, bakeries and mess between 6am to 10am, 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm.
Staff working in private organisations and IT/ITES companies must work from home.
All government offices can function with 30% workforce across the state and sub-registrar offices can issue 50% tokens a day for registrations, the order said.
“Passengers with e-registration shall be permitted in rental vehicles, taxis and autos.
Taxis will be permitted with three passengers apart from driver, and autos will be permitted with two passengers,” the order said.
Travelling to The Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Yelagiri and Courtallam for emergency reasons will be permitted after getting e-pass from the respective district collectors.
Inter-state and inter-district travel in case of individuals allowed for medical emergencies/funeral/last rites with e-registration, while intra-district travel for the same reasons is allowed without e-registration.
While continuous process industries and industries manufacturing essential commodities can continue to operate, export units that have export commitments or orders and their vendor units providing inputs to such industries in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Salem, Karur, Erode, Namakkal, Trichy and Madurai can function with 10% workforce for export related work and to send samples.
Earlier, it had allowed such units to function with 50% workforce in the rest of the districts.
“I appeal to people to go by walking to get provisions and avoid using two-wheeler and four-wheeler.
People should avoid stepping out unnecessarily,” Stalin said.